NCJ Number
140903
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The 1989 report on prison sanitation in England and Wales revealed that 27,000 of the more than 50,000 inmates have to use a pot instead of a lavatory, often in the presence of other inmates, and that the contents of the pot may remain in the cell for up to 11 hours before being emptied.
Abstract
The term for emptying these pots is "slopping out," a process that spreads bacteria and humiliates both the inmates and the correctional personnel who have to supervise them. In addition, sanitary facilities such as urinals and toilets are often insufficient for the numbers of prisoners available. The Chief Inspector of Prisons proposed that adequate sanitation facilities be provided within the next 7 years. Methods to be used include converting cells to bathroom facilities. However, the government has decided to build adequate sanitary facilities during renovations or new construction while leaving some cells without access to sanitation. As a result, fewer than 7,000 inmates would lack access to sanitation by the year 2000. The Chief Inspector has continued to urge faster progress. Ending slopping out would contribute both to hygiene and to morale, while saving staff time. Table